Cristina Calderón, a Cajamarca native, was able to increase her income and improve her quality of life significantly through a USAID project which helped her start a jewelry business.
| Peru Snapshot
Date of Independence: 28 July 1821
Population: 28,674,757
Income per Person: $5,090 (Yr)
USAID in Peru
http://peru.usaid.gov |
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mission Director
Paul Weisenfeld
USAID Peru
Tel: (51-1) 618-1200
E-mail: pweisenfeld@usaid.gov
Peru Desk Officer (Washington)
Mike Karbeling
MKarbeling@usaid.gov |
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Overview
Among the most dynamic in Latin America, Peru's economy continued to steam ahead in 2006 with an estimated GDP growth rate of 8.0%. Notwithstanding this impressive macroeconomic performance, major challenges remain with 49.5% of Peruvians still living in poverty and 18% in extreme poverty. To assist in poverty reduction, USAID's activities emphasize trade-led economic growth and increased market access for micro, small and medium enterprises. Limited government presence in the highlands and jungle allows illegal coca cultivation, drug trafficking, illegal logging, remnants of terrorism, and HIV/AIDS transmission to flourish. USAID's programs offer alternatives to illicit coca and strengthen government effectiveness to provide services in health, education, and environmental management in areas most affected by illegal drug cultivation. In the governance sector, perceptions that government is not responsive to citizens' demands and government's own capacity limitations to deliver services effectively and transparently result in a continuing low level of confidence in democratic institutions and can lead to conflict when groups choose to express their views outside of normal channels for political participation. USAID works to improve the accountability and effectiveness of selected regional and local governments and to encourage constructive dialogue with citizen groups.
Programs
Democracy
USAID's program focuses on coca-growing regions to help create stronger local governments better able to deter drug trafficking, illegal logging, terrorism, and other criminal practices, and to respond effectively to citizen needs. USAID also promotes political party strengthening and anti-corruption activities, including transparency, accountability, and greater citizen participation.
Economic Growth
To alleviate the severe poverty conditions in Peru, USAID is laying the foundation for sustained trade-led economic growth and increased market access for micro, small and medium enterprises. Activities are focused on poverty reduction by expanding opportunities for low-income Peruvians to participate in the international economy. USAID works with the national, regional and local governments in areas such as customs reform, business registration reform, regional export plans, and infrastructure concessions. Work with the private sector includes an extensive business development services program and support for implementation of the recently ratified Peru Trade Promotion Agreement between the United States and Peru.
The Peru/Ecuador border program focuses on the economic integration of the once contentious border region through increased global trade and investment. USAID is helping to improve government services, strengthen economic infrastructure, and increase the productivity of private enterprises. Activities help expand market access opportunities of border populations for trade with Peru, the United States and other countries.
Environment
USAID's program helps to improve the Government of Peru's environmental policies and builds the capacity of environmental institutions to promote sustainable forest management, protect biodiversity, and comply with environmental terms of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
Health
USAID's health program is improving the health of Peruvians and strengthening the performance of key institutions and organizations. USAID is working with the Ministry of Health to support the decentralization of health services to regional and local levels; improve public sector medicine distribution systems; and strengthen the Ministry's capacity for surveillance and response to infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Community-level assistance is provided to poor and indigenous people to improve their health status by encouraging healthier behaviors and practices.
Education
USAID programs are working to enhance the quality of and access to rural primary schools in two coca-growing regions. Policy-related activities provide assistance to the national and regional governments to facilitate the decentralization process as well as to boost civil society participation in oversight of education.
Alternative Development
USAID's Alternative Development program supports communities to adopt lifestyles free of illicit coca cultivation. This support comes in the form of projects chosen by the communities themselves, such as small-scale infrastructure, assistance with new crops or business opportunities, and improved social services. USAID also promotes national policy reform and uses various communications media to raise awareness of the benefits of licit lifestyles and the negative impacts of illegal coca.
Regional Trade Program
USAID implements a regional trade program among the Andean countries (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia) focusing on compliance with international trade obligations in areas such as, labor, barriers to trade, and intellectual property rights.
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